matching of gas chromatography to optical spectral measurements
AssigneePicarro, Inc.
InventorsBruce A. Richman, James M. Hamilton, Chris W. Rella, Elizabeth R. Schemm, Kal M. Skog, Rebecca Wernis
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Abstract
Improved gas sample preprocessing is provided for scanning optical spectroscopic analysis instruments by tailoring characteristic gas handling times to the scan time Ts of the analysis instrument. In particular, for sample preconcentration, the desorption duration Td of the sample preconcentrator should be ≥2Ts. For gas chromatography, the elution duration Te of relevant eluted species should be ≥2Ts. This advantageously avoids having significant changes in the gas sample within the analysis instrument as a scan is being performed.
Claims36
Apparatus for performing gas analysis, the apparatus comprising:
- a gas analysis instrument based on optical absorption spectroscopy, wherein the gas analysis instrument performs a spectral scan in a scan time Ts;
- a gas chromatography unit having at least an elution mode;
- a controller configured to at least control the elution mode;
- wherein the elution mode includes receiving an input gas sample and at least partially time-separating one or more constituents of the input gas sample to provide an eluted gas sample;
- wherein at least one species in the eluted gas sample is provided to the gas analysis instrument during an elution duration Te;
- wherein Te is at least 2Ts.
A method for performing gas analysis, the method comprising:
- performing optical absorption spectroscopy with a gas analysis instrument, wherein the gas analysis instrument performs a spectral scan in a scan time Ts;
- flowing gas through a gas chromatography unit having at least an elution mode controlled by a controller;
- wherein the elution mode includes receiving an input gas sample and at least partially time-separating one or more constituents of the input gas sample to provide an eluted gas sample;
- wherein at least one species in the eluted gas sample is provided to the gas analysis instrument during an elution duration Te;
- wherein Te is at least 2Ts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.